The First Young Master of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 1111 The Benefits of the Big Landlord
This question stumped the bigwigs in the court, they really didn't know how many identity certificates the Chang'an City government issued to the temple every year.

"Jin Yiwei also visited the government about this matter, and the result of the inquiry is that Chang'an City issues about five to fifteen copies of monk's certificates to temples every year according to the size of the temple. That is to say, even the largest Chang'an City The temple, Fahua Temple, recruited only fifteen monks within a year." Xuan Shijing said: "On that day in Dongshan County alone, there were more than 60 monks present, half of them were monks. .”

"This..." Hearing Xuan Shijing's precise analysis, Chu Suiliang realized that there was something wrong with it, but it was only limited to something wrong.

"It is said that at the end of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Kumarajiva, the master of Yao and Qin Sanzang, stayed in the holy land of Mount Jue on his way to Chang'an to translate scriptures, and translated the "Diamond Sutra", the outline of all Buddhist classics, here. The most important thing is this scripture. Fahua Temple and Fufeng Famen Temple are far away from each other. Although it was built earlier, it really flourished after the Tang Dynasty established the Central Plains." Xuan Shijing said: "In the early years of Zhenguan , there are only thirty or so monks in Fahua Temple, and it was just a small and desolate temple at that time, until now, the number of monks in Fahua Temple is roughly estimated to be more than a thousand."

According to the government's annual document issued to Fahua Temple, a maximum of 20 monks will be admitted a year, and in 300 years, there will be only 700 monks. What about the extra [-] monks?
The rise of the craze for Buddhism is also a test for the imperial court. Most believers are so obsessed that they can't extricate themselves, so they shave or become monks. There are more and more monks in Buddhist temples.
"It's just Fahua Temple, what about Famen Temple that is equal to Fahua Temple? What about other Buddhist temples, big and small?" Xuan Shijing asked.

"It is indeed a headache if the endless shaved ordained monks are not controlled." Changsun Wuji also said: "Although the problem is troublesome and difficult, it is not such a trivial matter. The intensity of the government's picketing is increasing. gone."

"My lord Changsun is right. Buddhist temples are recruiting monks endlessly. This is just a disease of ringworm and scabies. There are many people in the Tang Dynasty. If you like to make troubles, go there." Xuan Shijing smiled: "Even if the whole city of Chang'an All the common people have become monks, so they won’t be able to go hungry anyway.”

"The old man didn't mean that."

"The younger generation is not targeting the eldest grandson, but the number of monks is really not a big deal compared to the things recorded in the ledger." Xuan Shijing said.

"The big thing Xuanhou said." Ma Zhou looked at Xuan Shijing and asked.

"The Ganlu Palace is here, and you will know when you enter in a while." Xuan Shijing pointed to the gate of the Ganlu Palace in front of him: "Seniors, please."

Several people entered the Ganlu Hall, and His Majesty Li Er was already sitting at the head of the Ganlu Hall with a dark face.

Sure enough, the Buddhist temple robbed his old Li's family of taxes, so His Majesty Li Er's face turned black.

The largest landlord in the Tang Dynasty is the emperor's family. Only now have we discovered that someone is grabbing land from the landlord and not paying taxes after grabbing the land. temple policy.

Chi Guoguo slapped her face.

"Your Majesty and I will see you." Everyone stood up in the hall and bowed their hands to salute His Majesty Li Er.

"A few lovers don't need to be too polite." His Majesty Li Er stretched out his hand for a little support, and then went to the main topic: "If you want to come, you also know what I called some of you to the Ganlu Palace."

Several people glanced at each other, then nodded.

"These things brought up by the Marquis of Dongshan, I just looked through them roughly now. Next, I would like to trouble a few lovers, let's take a look at these things." His Majesty Li Er said, and then looked at Deyi: "Give me a few The honorable family grants you a seat."

"No." Deyi responded.

In the past, when discussing matters in the Ganlu Hall, they were all standing, but now they have to sit down, that is to say, they have to stay in the Ganlu Hall for a while.

Soon some eunuchs began to arrange the two sides of the Ganlu Hall, and after a while, several bigwigs present sat down on both sides of the Ganlu Hall.

There are three or four ledgers submitted by Xuan Shijing. Apart from these, there are also some materials in the temple that have been collected and summarized. His Majesty Li Er asked Deyi to send these things to several courtiers to look at them in turn. .

Xuan Shijing and His Majesty Li Er sat in their respective seats and waited for these ministers to look through the account books.

The expression on the faces of the people looking through the ledger couldn't be hidden. The more they looked back, the more surprised they became. Compared with the information compiled by Xuan Shijing, the Buddhist temples in Chang'an City are indeed too much.

Just now on the road, I said that the Buddhist temple has been recruiting monks endlessly regardless of official documents. Although everyone thinks that the Buddhist temple has done this, they have never been so shocked.

"How are you dear ones?" His Majesty Li Er asked.

"Your Majesty, what is recorded in this ledger is indeed beyond my expectation. For a while, I don't know what to do." Chu Suiliang said it straightforwardly, not knowing what to say.

It is a bit difficult for anyone who comes into contact with such a big matter at once to express his point of view immediately.

"Your Majesty, although there is a lot of property under the name of the temple, after all, the imperial court issued an edict that the temple can be exempted from taxes. Now it is a bit difficult to rectify it." Changsun Wuji said.

If the imperial court's decree is changed as soon as it is said, then the imperial court will have no prestige at all, so Changsun Wuji said that this matter is difficult.

"That's right. Although this temple is rich and has a lot of wealth, it's not appropriate to move these things." Ma Zhou also echoed.

"Isn't Mr. Ma always willing to uphold justice and plead for the people? Why is he also cowardly in this matter?" Xuan Shijing asked puzzled.

Hearing this, Ma Zhou smiled wryly: "It's not that I don't want to take care of it, it's just that I can't take care of it. The Buddhist temple can use the court's decree as a shield."

"Apart from these, if His Majesty ordered to rectify the Buddhist temple, it would be difficult to stop the rumors." Fang Xuanling said: "Although there were not many monks and soldiers in the army back then, they did exist. A crime of crossing a river, demolishing bridges, dismantling mills and killing donkeys."

"Did there really be monk soldiers in His Majesty's army?" Xuan Shijing asked, "Songshan Shaolin Temple? Thirteen stick monks saved King Qin?"

"There are indeed monks and soldiers, but the stick monks who rescued the King of Qin were just made up by idlers in teahouses and restaurants." Chu Suiliang laughed.

"But even if it is compiled, there are many people who believe it." Fang Xuanling said.

(End of this chapter)